H-2B Visa Applications for April 2026 Jobs to Open on January 1

H-2B visa applications for temporary non-agricultural jobs with start dates from 1 April 2026 will open on 1 January 2026, the US Office of Foreign Labour Certification has confirmed.

The filing window will open at midnight Eastern Time. Employers may submit applications for roles beginning on or after 1 April 2026 under the H-2B programme, which allows US businesses to hire foreign nationals for temporary non-agricultural work.

The programme is used by employers in sectors including hospitality, landscaping and construction, where demand for seasonal labour is high. Workers admitted under H-2B status may remain in the United States for up to three years. After that period, they must leave the country for at least three months before seeking to return under the same classification.

Filing rules and processing order

Applications submitted before the opening time will be automatically rejected. Under procedures introduced in 2019, all filings received between 1 and 3 January will be placed into a randomised selection process to determine the order in which they are reviewed. The system is intended to manage volume and ensure equal treatment of applications submitted at the start of the filing period.

The Office of Foreign Labour Certification has also restated its policy on duplicate filings. If multiple applications appear to relate to the same job opportunity, the employer will receive a Notice of Deficiency and must show that each filing reflects a separate and legitimate need. If this is not demonstrated, all related applications will be denied.

Use of the FLAG system

Applications must be submitted through the Foreign Labour Application Gateway, known as FLAG. User accounts are issued to individuals and may not be shared. Any breach of this requirement may result in the loss of access to the system.

Visa cap for early fiscal year 2026

Demand for H-2B visas continues to exceed the available supply. By September 2025, US Citizenship and Immigration Services had received enough petitions to meet the statutory cap for the first half of fiscal year 2026.

Federal law limits the H-2B programme to 66,000 visas each year. The total is split evenly, with 33,000 visas allocated to employment starting between October and March, and the remaining 33,000 reserved for jobs beginning between April and September.